Exogenous oxidant test detection method and test strip for adulterated urine samples

Abstract

A reagent for detecting exogenous oxidants in urine comprises tetramethylbenzidine, an acidic buffer, a catalyst, a medium for carrying out chemical reactions, and a resinous material. The reagent may be utilized in liquid form or may be applied to a test strip.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A reagent for detecting exogenous oxidants in urine, the reagent comprising tetramethylberizidine.  
     
     
         2 . The reagent as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an acidic buffer;    a catalyst; and    a medium for carrying out chemical reactions.    
     
     
         3 . The reagent as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an acidic buffer;    a catalyst;    a medium for carrying out chemical reactions; and    a resinous material.    
     
     
         4 . The reagent as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an anhydrous acid;    an enzyme catalyst;    a solvent medium for carrying out chemical reactions; and    a water soluble resinous material.    
     
     
         5 . The reagent as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 anhydrous citric acid;    peroxidase;    dimethyl sulfoxide; and    polyvinyl pyrrolidone.    
     
     
         6 . The reagent as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 anhydrous citric acid having a concentration of between approximately 0.05 (wt/Vol) % and approximately 5.0 (wt/Vol) %;    peroxidase having a concentration of between approximately 0.003 (wt/Vol) % and approximately 0.030 (wt/Vol) %;    dimethyl sulfoxide having a concentration of between approximately 20 (wt/Vol) % and approximately 70 (wt/Vol) %;    polyvinyl pyrrolidone having a concentration of between approximately 0.1 (wt/Vol) % and approximately 2.0 (wt/Vol) %; and    wherein the tetramethylbenzidine has a concentration of between approximately 0.020 (wt/Vol) % and approximately 0.300 (wt/Vol) %.    
     
     
         7 . The reagent as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 anhydrous citric acid having a concentration of approximately 1.0 (wt/Vol) %;    peroxidase having a concentration of approximately 0.012 (wt/Vol) %;    dimethyl sulfoxide having a concentration of approximately 50 (wt/Vol) %;    polyvinyl pyrrolidone having a concentration of approximately 0.5 (wt/Vol) %; and    wherein the tetramethylbenzidine has a concentration of approximately 0.11 (wt/Vol) %.    
     
     
         8 . The reagent as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the reagent is a liquid solution.  
     
     
         9 . A test strip for detecting exogenous oxidants in urine, the test strip comprising: 
 a substrate;    a reagent formed upon the substrate, the reagent comprising tetramethylbenzidine.    
     
     
         10 . The test strip as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the reagent further comprises: 
 an acidic buffer;    a catalyst;    a medium for carrying out chemical reactions; and    a resinous material.    
     
     
         11 . The test strip as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the reagent further comprises: 
 an anhydrous acid;    an enzyme catalyst;    a solvent medium for carrying out chemical reactions; and    a water soluble resinous material.    
     
     
         12 . The test strip as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the reagent further comprises: 
 anhydrous citric acid;    peroxidase;    dimethyl sulfoxide; and    polyvinyl pyrrolidone.    
     
     
         13 . The test strip as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the reagent further comprises: 
 anhydrous citric acid having a concentration of between approximately 0.05 (wt/Vol) % and approximately 5.0 (wt/Vol) %;    peroxidase having a concentration of between approximately 0.003 (wt/Vol) % and approximately 0.030 (wt/Vol) %;    dimethyl sulfoxide having a concentration of between approximately 20 (wt/Vol) % and approximately 70 (wt/Vol) %;    polyvinyl pyrrolidone having a concentration of between approximately 0.1 (wt/Vol) % and approximately 2.0 (wt/Vol) %; and    wherein the tetramethylbenzidine has a concentration of between approximately 0.020 (wt/Vol) % and approximately 0.300 (wt/Vol) %.    
     
     
         14 . The test strip as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the reagent further comprises: 
 anhydrous citric acid having a concentration of approximately 1.0 (wt/Vol) %;    peroxidase having a concentration of approximately 0.012 (wt/Vol) %;    dimethyl sulfoxide having a concentration of approximately 50 (wt/Vol) %;    polyvinyl pyrrolidone having a concentration of approximately 0.5 (wt/Vol) %; and    wherein the tetramethylbenzidine has a concentration of approximately 0.11 (wt/Vol) %.    
     
     
         15 . A method for detecting exogenous oxidants in urine, the method comprising: 
 providing a urine sample;    combining the urine sample with a reagent to form a test solution, the reagent comprising tetramethylbenzidine; and    sensing a color of the test solution, the color of the test solution being indicative of the presence of an exogenous oxidant in the urine sample.    
     
     
         16 . The method as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the reagent further comprises: 
 an acidic buffer;    a catalyst;    a medium for carrying out chemical reactions; and    a resinous material.    
     
     
         17 . The method as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the reagent further comprises: 
 an anhydrous acid;    an enzyme catalyst;    a solvent medium for carrying out chemical reactions; and    a water soluble resinous material.    
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the reagent further comprises: 
 anhydrous citric acid;    peroxidase;    dimethyl sulfoxide; and    polyvinyl pyrrolidone.    
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the reagent further comprises: 
 anhydrous citric acid having a concentration of between approximately 0.05 (wt/Vol) % and approximately 5.0 (wt/Vol) %;    peroxidase having a concentration of between approximately 0.003 (wt/Vol) % and approximately 0.030 (wt/Vol) %;    dimethyl sulfoxide having a concentration of between approximately 20 (wt/Vol) % and approximately 70 (wt/Vol) %;    polyvinyl pyrrolidone having a concentration of between approximately 0.1 (wt/Vol) % and approximately 2.0 (wt/Vol) %; and    wherein the tetramethylbenzidine has a concentration of between approximately 0.020 (wt/Vol) % and approximately 0.300 (wt/Vol) %.    
     
     
         20 . The method as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the reagent further comprises: 
 anhydrous citric acid having a concentration of approximately 1.0 (wt/Vol) %;    peroxidase having a concentration of approximately 0.012 (wt/Vol) %;    dimethyl sulfoxide having a concentration of approximately 50 (wt/Vol) %;    polyvinyl pyrrolidone having a concentration of approximately 0.5 (wt/Vol) %; and    wherein the tetramethylbenzidine has a concentration of approximately 0.11 (wt/Vol) %.    
     
     
         21 . The method as recited in  claim 15 , wherein sensing a color of a test solution comprises sensing the color of a test solution with a human eye.  
     
     
         22 . The method as recited in  claim 15 , wherein sensing a color of a test solution comprises sensing the color of a test solution with an electronic sensor.  
     
     
         23 . The method as recited in  claim 15 , wherein combining the urine sample with a reagent comprises wetting a test strip with urine.  
     
     
         24 . The method as recited in  claim 15 , wherein providing the urine sample, combining the urine sample with a reagent, and sensing the color of the test solution are part of an automated process.